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Fringe 2009 Reviews (55)
The Oxford Imps
Gilded Balloon Teviot
**
Emulating the Whose Line Is It Anyway? on-the-spot comedy, this
group of eight (including talented pianist) present improvised scenes,
with the help of suggestions from the audience. Different every day
and with a very good compere figure presiding over the action, this
show moves with pace in the links but lacks impressive substance during
the scenes. The actors all contribute playful energetic performances,
but there isn't enough quick-fire inspiration to go round.
Sacha Voit
Once A Catholic
By Mary O'Malley
Southampton University Student's Union Theatre Group
C Chambers Street
***
Like normal teenagers Class 5a are growing up and discovering boys
and alcohol. However, they are doing this growing whilst attending a
strict convent school run by Irish nuns in the 1950's. Religion and
rock n' roll can't mix - or can they?
This pared down play could be understood to raise issues of institutional
brainwashing and many other debates over religious schooling but is
in essence just a very funny comedy about friendship and how to break
rules. This production zips along merrily and the cast all create bright
performances. There may be a temptation in places to exaggerate slightly
but for the most part the characters stay just the right side of being
total caricatures and so there are plenty of laughs along the way.
Amy Yorston
C!RCA
Assembly and C!rca
Assembly Hall
****
Fantastic physical dance theatre, the gymnastic skills of this amazing
group really stun. With a fabulous sound track, moving from 'She's like
the Wind' to 'Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps' to beautiful melodic music, serving
as a backdrop to their phenomenal acrobatic skills, this show cannot
fail to impress.
Alternating between throwing themselves on the floor, flipping through
the air and balancing with each other as if they were standing on solid
land, this is circus for the modern day. On a bare stage the performers
take to the light and move between simple, everyday movement to simply
amazing skills at the limit of the body's ability. And all this with
just the right dusting of saucy humour - watch out for the 'pointed'
red shoes!
Sacha Voit
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